Zimbabwe announces new 66MW photovoltaic project

    The Zimbabwe Energy Authority (ZERA) reported this week that seven solar photovoltaic Generador Solar power generation projects with a total capacity of 66.6 MW are currently in the late construction phase and are expected to be connected to the grid by the end of this year.

    ZERA CEO Edington Mazambani said: “We expect seven power plants to be put into operation by the end of this year. This fact clearly shows that we do have strong regulations to protect investors and consumers.” He added, Solar photovoltaic power generation is the main energy source for all licensed IPP projects.

    One of the projects under construction is a 5 MW Wartrail power plant located in Bulilimamangwe, Matabeleland South province. The project was constructed by Plum Solar (Pvt) Ltd. In addition, SolGas (Pvt) Ltd. plans to build another 5 MW project in Hwange, Matabeleland Norte province.

    At the same time, Richaw Solar Tech (Pvt) Ltd. is building a 5 MW Sunset Technologies solar power park in Gwanda, Matabeleland Norte. Harava Solar Power Park is installing a 20 MW solar array in Seke, Mashonaland East.

    Power Ventures (Private) Ltd. is building a 25 MW Chidobe-Mizpah project in Hwange District, Matabeleland Norte Province. Guruve Solar Park (Pvt) Ltd. is also building a 5 MW Guruve solar power park in Guruve District, Mashonaland Central Province.

    All six projects have signed a power purchase agreement with an unnamed power company. The term of Plum Solar's PPA agreement is 20 years, and the rest are 25 years.

    The seventh device being developed in Zimbabwe is a 0.5 MW off-grid hybrid solar diesel power generation project. Kefalos Cheese Products (Pvt) Ltd. is building this array in Mashonaland East.

    According to the latest statistics from the International Renewable Energy Agency, by the end of 2020, Zimbabwe's installed photovoltaic capacity is about 17 MW. In the past ten years, the country's power grid has suffered from power outages every day, and the government has been working hard to raise funds to invest in the construction of new power stations. Zimbabwe currently relies on electricity imported from neighboring Mozambique and South Africa, and plans to deploy 1 GW of clean energy capacity by 2025.